In a significant victory for law enforcement, a terror accused has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a Sarpanch in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district back in 2002. The Sessions Court in Bhaderwah delivered the verdict after a protracted trial lasting over six years.
The accused, Irfan Ali, a resident of Kilhotran, Tehsil Gandoh, Doda, was found guilty of the cold-blooded murder of Sher Mohd, who was the Sarpanch of Changa Gandoh. The case was initially registered at the Gandoh Police Station on July 4, 2002, following the gruesome killing of the innocent civilian. Ali and his associates, affiliated with a militant outfit, fled the scene after committing the crime.
A thorough investigation was conducted, led by the then Station House Officer of Police Station Gandoh. This culminated in the filing of a challan before the Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Bhaderwah, on May 28, 2019. The accused had remained in judicial custody since 2019.
The court found Irfan Ali guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment for the barbaric act. He was convicted under relevant sections of the Ranbir Penal Code and the Arms Act. K.K. Bandral, Chief Prosecuting Officer (CPO) Bhaderwah, effectively conducted the prosecution of the case.
This conviction is a testament to the commitment of Doda Police to ensure justice for victims of terrorism and to uphold peace, justice, and the rule of law in the district.
In a similar case earlier this year, a court in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district sentenced a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, Abdul Wahid Mir, to life imprisonment for the murder of a civilian in 1993. This underscores the ongoing efforts to address and deliver justice in decades-old terror-related cases.
These convictions also come at a time when the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha, has urged families of those killed by terrorists in the last 35 years to come forward and lodge FIRs to get justice. The L-G is also providing jobs to the next of kin of those killed by terrorists, whose cases for compassionate appointments in government jobs were not followed up on in the last 35 years.
